Multistage blowdown valve for a compressor system

ABSTRACT

A multi-stage blowdown valve is provided that uses a single control signal to simultaneously decompress the interstage and the second stage in a compressor system. The valve uses a series of sliding spools located linearly within a single bore to either prevent or allow fluid communication between two isolated passageways each having an inlet port and a discharge port. The valve, when used as a two stage blowdown valve in a multi-stage compressor system, can prevent compressor failure from occurring by ensuring that both the interstage and the second stages are decompressed, not only the interstage.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/179,523, filed Oct. 27, 1998, of Centers et al., which is a continuation-in-part of commonly owned U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/066,008, filed Oct. 28, 1997, of Centers et al., the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present application relates generally to a control valve. More specifically, it relates to a control valve used with compressors. Most specifically, it relates to a blowdown valve used with one or more oil free two stage screw compressors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Power consumption for a two stage dry (oil free) screw compressor is significantly reduced if the interstage and the second stage are both decompressed when the compressor is running unloaded. The problem with decompressing both stages. however, is that if the second stage blowdown valve malfunctions, the interstage blowdown valve will decompress the interstage and leave a large differential pressure on the second stage. This large differential pressure will raise the temperature of the second stage, possibly leading to compressor failure.

[0004] Previous compressors avoided the above problem by only unloading pressure from the second stage and not from both stages. The disadvantage, however, of unloading pressure only from the second stage when running the compressor unloaded is that the compressor's power consumption is greater than if both stages are unloaded.

[0005] Previous valve mechanisms for compressors have not adequately addressed the problem of simultaneously decompressing two isolated stages. U.S. Pat. No. 3,260,444 to Williams discloses valve mechanisms 104 and 110 which are controlled by the same control line 158 and operate in a similar manner. With valve 104, for example, control line 158 can move piston 130 to control whether pipe 106 is in communication with pipe 113 or pipe 102. The disadvantage with using these valves as blowdown valves for a two stage compressor is that if one valve should malfunction, the other valve may continue to function, possibly leading to compressor failure.

[0006] What is desired, therefore, is a reliable mechanism for a two stage dry screw compressor to decompress the interstage blowdown valve when the second stage blowdown valve is activated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a blowdown valve for two stages of a multi-stage compressor such that the valve reliably decompresses the interstage when the second stage is decompressed.

[0008] The object of the invention is achieved by a blowdown valve that uses a single control signal to simultaneously decompress the interstage when the second stage is decompressed. The valve uses a series of sliding spools located linearly within a single bore to either prevent or allow fluid communication between two isolated passageways each having an inlet port and a discharge port. The valve can be reliably used as a two stage blowdown valve in a multi-stage compressor system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIGS. 1A and 1B each show an isometric cross-sectional view of the multistage blowdown valve of the present invention wherein the valve is in a closed position and an open position, respectively.

[0010]FIGS. 2A and 2B each show an isometric cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the multistage blowdown valve of the present invention wherein the valve is in a closed position and an open position, respectively.

[0011]FIGS. 3A and 3B are front cross-sectional and side cross-sectional views, respectively, of the valve of FIG. 2A.

[0012]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the multistage blowdown valve of FIGS. 1A and 1B used with a compressor system.

[0013]FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view of the improved operative connections of a compressor system of FIG. 3 used with the multistage blowdown valve of FIGS. 1A and 1B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014]FIGS. 1A and 1B show the preferred embodiment for the multistage blowdown valve 50 of the present invention. Referring to these figures, the multistage blowdown valve 50 has two inlet ports, 26, 30 and two discharge ports 28, 32. When the valve 50 is in a closed position as shown in FIG. 1A, all ports 26, 28, 30 and 32 are fluidly isolated from one another. When the valve 50′ is in an open position as shown in FIG. 1B, inlet port 26 is in fluid communication only with discharge port 28 and inlet port 30 is in fluid communication only with discharge port 32. It should be apparent that the valve 50 could operate in a reverse direction with the inlet ports 26, 30 acting as discharge ports and discharge ports 28, 32 acting as inlet ports.

[0015] The multistage blowdown valve 50 has a main bore 68 that can have a single diameter, but preferably has three diameters 68′, 68″ and 68′″. Larger diameter 68″ facilitates a larger volume of fluid passage through the valve and also prolongs the life of the rings 36. Thus, for example, the life of ring 36 on spool 17 will be prolonged by avoiding repeated contact with the edges of inlet 26 as the spool reciprocates through the bore 14. The smaller diameter 68′″ helps to center the spring 24 within the bore 68.

[0016] Within the bore 68 are a plurality of spools 60, 62, and 64 that linearly abut each other within the bore. Spools 60 and 64 each have a leg portion 42 bounded by two head portions 40. Spool 62 has one head portion 40 bounded by two leg portions 42. Adjacent spools are preferably coupled through the use of a mortise and a tenon. For example, each leg portion 42 of spool 62 can have a tenon 44 for fitting into a mortise 46 in a head portion of adjacent spools 60 and 64.

[0017] Each head portion 40 further preferably has one or more rubber rings 36 inserted into a corresponding annular groove in the head portion such that each spool has airtight contact within the bore 14 as the spools move within the bore. The preferred type of ring used for ring 36 on the spools 16-20 or 60, 62 and 64 are sometimes referred to as V-rings or U-rings which refer to the ability of the ring to fold when placed in a bore. The beneficial properties of the folding ring design include reduced sticking when the spools move in bore 14, reduced sliding forces which allow lower and reapeatable control forces, improved sealing by the ring unfolding under pressure, and durability in that all of the desirable properties of the folding ring continue even after partial ring wear. The folding ring design also provides reliable operation when the spools move within the various diameters of the bore, for example, from diameter 14′ to 14″ or 68′ to 68″ and then back again.

[0018] The movement of spools 60, 62 and 64 is controlled through pneumatic pressure applied against the head 40 of spool 64 through control port 34. A spring 24 is located within the bore preferably at an opposite end of the control port 34 and extends laterally through the bore. The spring 24 abuts the head 40 from spool 60 to bias the valve to a closed position (see FIG. 1A). Furthermore, spring means, such as compression spring 24, counteracts the force of the control signal when the valve is in an open position (see FIG. 1B) and returns the blowdown valve to a closed position when the control signal is inactive. Alternatively, a tension spring and the control port could operate together at the same end of the bore, although those skilled in the art will realize that the control signal will operate in an inverse manner.

[0019]FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B show another embodiment of the multistage blowdown valve 10 and 10′ of the present invention. FIG. 2B shows the blowdown valve 10′ in an open position and FIGS. 2A, 3A and 3B show the blowdown valve 10 in a closed position. The multistage blowdown valve 10 generally differs from multistage blowdown valve 50 in that it has a different configuration of spools 16-20 and does not have a smaller bore near the compression spring 24. Instead, the multistage blowdown valve 10 has a main bore 14 with two diameters 14′ and 14″.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, within bore 14 are a plurality of spools 16-20 that linearly abut each other within the bore. Each spool 16-20 has a leg portion 42 and a head portion 40. Adjacent spools are preferably coupled through the use of a mortise and a tenon. For example, each head portion 40 of each spool 1620 can have a mortise 46 for fitedly receiving a tenon 44 on the leg portion 42 of the adjacent spool.

[0021] Although the present invention uses a plurality of spools within the bore, a single spool could also be used for the same function. However, a plurality of individual spools 16-20 or 62, 62 and 64 are preferably used because they create a better seal by reacting to both the control pressure and internal pressures produced from the inlet ports. However, it is more preferable to use the spools 62, 62 and 64 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B because less linear deviations will occur during spool movement than with the configuration of spools 16-20 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

[0022] It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that although the valve described herein is for a two-stage compressor, the valve can be adapted for compressors having three or more stages. To create a multi-stage blowdown valve, the valve described herein merely needs a longer bore, additional spools and extra inlet and discharge ports.

[0023]FIGS. 3 and 4 show the multistage blowdown valve used with a dual stage compressor system 1002. The dual stage compressor system 1002 described herein is best described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/179,523. The multistage blowdown valve 10 can have many applications and be used with many compressor systems. Thus, it should be understood that the compressor system 1002 described herein is merely given as an example and not meant to be limiting.

[0024] The operation of compressor system 1002 will now be briefly described. Referring to FIG. 3, the first-stage compressor 102 compresses the air to approximately thirty (30) psi. The compressed air is transmitted from the first stage compressor 102 into the innerstage piping 104. The compressed air flows through the piping 104 to an innerstage cooler 106. The cooler 106 drops the air temperature by approximately three hundred degrees Fahrenheit (300° F.). The cooler 106 is connected to the discharge of the first stage compressor 102 via a coupling plate 108.

[0025] The compressed air is transmitted through the innerstage cooler 106 into another innerstage pipe 112. The pipe 112 is connected to a moisture trap 110 via coupling plates 108A. The moisture trap 110 is connected to the innerstage piping that leads to the second stage compressor 114 via innerstage pipe 116, which is also connected to the moisture trap 110 via coupling plates 108B.

[0026] This compressed air is transmitted into the inlet of the second stage compressor 114. The second stage compressor 102 compresses the air approximately another seventy (70) psi, which brings the air up to approximately one hundred (100) psi. The compressed air is transmitted from the second stage compressor 114 into the second stage compressor discharge pipe 118. The pipe 118 is connected to another discharge pipe 118A leading to a compressor package discharge cooler 120. The cooler 120 again drops the temperature of the compressed air transmitted therethrough by approximately three hundred degrees Fahrenheit (300° F.).

[0027] Innerstage pipe 116 has a bung 150 welded thereto, which connects the innerstage pipe 116 to the inlet port 26 of the multistage blowdown valve 10. The connection to inlet port 26 is through a pipe elbow 151, pipe nipple 152, pipe coupling 153, and pipe nipple 154. A muffler 450 is attached to the discharge port 28 of the blowdown valve 10. The purpose of the muffler 450 is to reduce the amount of noise that would be created when any trapped air pressure is vented to atmosphere.

[0028] Discharge pipe 130B is attached to the moisture trap 126, has a T shaped bung 170A welded thereto, and has a package temperature probe 2010 is located within it. One end of the T-shaped bung 170A has one end of a pipe elbow 128A coupled thereto. The other end of the pipe elbow 128A is coupled to the discharge pipe 130A. A pipe nipple 171 is connected to the other end of the bung 170A, which is threaded onto a coupling 172, which is connected to pipe nipple 173. The inlet port 30 of the multistage blowdown valve 10 is connected to the pipe nipple 173. The discharge port 28 of valve 10 has an exhaust muffler 440 operatively connected thereto. The muffler 440 reduces the amount of noise created when any trapped air pressure is vented to atmosphere.

[0029] The multistage blowdown valve 10 of the present invention will exhaust any trapped pressure at shutdown or unload of the two stage compressor 1002 that might be trapped in innerstage pipe 116 and in the discharge piping 120 from the second stage compressor 114. Due to the integration of the interstage and second stage blowdown valves, the interstage and the second stage will be decompressed simultaneously. Therefore, if the second stage blowdown valve malfunctions and fails to open, the innerstage blowdown valve will not open thus averting possible compressor failure.

[0030] Additional modifications need to be made to the compressor system 1002 to use it with the multistage blowdown valve 10 of the present invention. Tubing elbow 180, which was attached to the moisture trap 126, is now attached to a shuttle check valve 492. One side of the shuttle check valve 492 is connected to the moisture trap 126 through a pipe fitting 494. The other side of the shuttle check valve 492 is connected to a tubing elbow 490 which is connected to tubing 488. Tubing 488 has an elbow 480 connected to its other end which is connected to a first end of tubing T 460. Previously, tube fitting 190 was operatively connected to check valve 128, but is now connected to a second end of tubing T 460. The third end of tubing T 460 is connected through a pipe fitting 470 to check valve 128A.

[0031] The dual blowdown valve 10; 50 of the present invention lowers the pressure ratio across the second stage, i.e., the valve of the pressure across the second stage minus the pressure across the interstage, divided by the valve of the pressure across the interstage. Through testing, it has been determined that using the dual blowdown valve of the present invention can lower the second stage pressure ratio under normal operating conditions from a value above six to a value below three.

[0032] One of the benefits of maintaining a low-pressure ratio across the second stage compressor during normal operations is that it lowers operating temperatures in the second stage compressor. Tests of the dual blowdown concept have shown that a standard blowdown system had a second stage compressor discharge as high as 360 degrees F. during normal cycling operation. Under the same cycling operation, the dual blowdown system had a maximum second stage compressor discharge temperature of 295 degrees F. In this test, the dual blowdown system ran 22 percent cooler than the standard system. These cooler operating temperatures obtained from using the dual blowdown valve 10, 50 can lead to a longer compressor lifespan.

[0033] It should be understood that the foregoing is illustrative and not limiting and that obvious modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, reference should be made primarily to the accompanying claims, rather than the foregoing specification, to determine the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A valve for being controlled by a single control signal from a compressor system, the valve comprising: a bore; a plurality of spools located linearly within the bore, the plurality of spools having a first position when the control signal is in a first state, the plurality of spools having a second position when the control signal is in a second state; spring means for biasing the plurality of spools; a first inlet port being in fluid communication with a first discharge port when the control signal is in the second state, the first inlet port being fluidly isolated from the first discharge port when the control signal is in the first state; and a second inlet port being in fluid communication with a second discharge port when the control signal is in the second state, the second inlet port being fluidly isolated from the second discharge port when the control signal is in the first state; wherein the first inlet port and the first discharge port are fluidly isolated from both the second inlet port and the second discharge port.
 2. The valve of claim 1, wherein the control signal comprises pneumatic pressure.
 3. The valve of claim 1, wherein the spring means comprises a compression spring and wherein the first and the second states of the control signal comprise low and high pneumatic pressure, respectively, and the compression spring biases the plurality of spools to the first position.
 4. The valve of claim 1, wherein the spring means comprises a tension spring and wherein the first and the second states of the control signal comprise high and low pneumatic pressure, respectively, and the tension spring biases the plurality of spools to the second position.
 5. The valve of claim 1, wherein each pair of adjacent spools are coupled linearly by the use of a mortise and a tenon.
 6. The valve of claim 1, further comprising an oil less, two stage compressor system having an interstage compressor and a second stage compressor, wherein the valve is coupled to the compressor system.
 7. The valve of claim 6, further comprising: a first muffler coupled to the first discharge port; and a second muffler coupled to the second discharge port; wherein the first inlet port is effectively coupled to the interstage compressor and the second inlet port is effectively coupled to the second stage compressor.
 8. A blowdown valve for being controlled by a single pneumatic pressure signal from a compressor system having an interstage compressor and a second stage compressor, wherein the pneumatic pressure signal can be a low pressure or a high pressure, the valve comprising: a bore; a plurality of spools located linearly within the bore, the plurality of spools having a first position when the pneumatic pressure signal is the low pressure, the plurality of spools having a second position when the pneumatic pressure signal is the high pressure; a compression spring for biasing the plurality of spools to the closed position; a first inlet port being in fluid communication with a first discharge port when the pneumatic pressure signal is the high pressure, the first inlet port being fluidly isolated from the first discharge port when the pneumatic pressure signal is the low pressure; a second inlet port being in fluid communication with a second discharge port when the pneumatic pressure signal is the high pressure, the second inlet port being fluidly isolated from the second discharge port when the pneumatic pressure signal is the low pressure; a first muffler coupled to the first discharge port; and a second muffler coupled to the second discharge port; wherein the first inlet port is effectively coupled to the interstage compressor and the second inlet port is effectively coupled to the second stage compressor; wherein the first inlet port and the first discharge port are fluidly isolated from both the second inlet port and the second discharge port.
 9. The blowdown valve of claim 8, wherein each pair of adjacent spools are coupled linearly by the use of a mortise and a tenon.
 10. An electronic control system for a single or a network of oil less, two stage compressor packages, operatively connected to a pressure system in which pressure is to be maintained within a desired pressure range, for controlling the operation of the single or the network of compressor packages, the system comprising: measuring means, operatively connected to the first and the second compressor stages, for determining the pressure exiting the first and the second compressor stages; processing means, operatively connected to the measuring means for receiving signals from the measuring means, for comparing the determined pressure exiting the first compressor and the second compressor stages with a predetermined range of possible pressures; means, operatively connected to the oil free, two stage compressor package and the processing means, for shutting down the compressor package before the compressor package is damaged; and a valve for simultaneously releasing the pressure from the first and the second compressor stages, said valve being controlled from a single control signal.
 11. The system of claim 10 wherein, if the air pressure exiting the first and the second compressor stages goes above the predetermined range of possible pressures, the control system will shut down the compressor package.
 12. The system of claim 11 wherein, the air pressure exiting the first and the second compressor stages is established by computing a value by measuring the second stage compressor discharge pressure and the first stage compressor discharge pressure, such that when a ratio of an effective second stage compressor discharge pressure to an effective first stage compressor discharge pressure is greater than 3.5, for a period of about three (3) seconds, an alarm is flagged and the control system shuts down the compressor package.
 13. The system of claim 10 further comprising: measuring means, operatively connected to the first and the second compressor stages, for determining the temperature of the gas exiting the first and the second compressor stages, wherein the processing means compares the determined temperature exiting the first compressor and the second compressor stages with a predetermined temperature limit; and means, operatively connected to the oil free, two stage compressor package and the processor means, for shutting the compressor package down before the package is damaged, if the exiting temperatures exceed such predetermined temperature.
 14. The system of claim 13 wherein, the predetermined temperature limit of the air exiting the first compressor and the second compressor stages is set at about four hundred thirty five degrees Fahrenheit (435° F.).
 15. The system of claim 13 wherein, the predetermined temperature limit of the air entering the second stage compressor and the compressor package discharge temperatures is set at about one hundred twenty degrees Fahrenheit (120° F.).
 16. The system of claim 13 wherein, after shutting down the compressor package, the control system records which of the four measured temperatures was responsible for shutting down the compressor package, and at what time and date the shutdown occurred.
 17. The system of claim 10 further comprising: at least one cooling means, operatively positioned between the stage one compressor and the stage two compressor, for cooling the air prior to the air entering the second stage compressor; at least a second cooling means, operatively positioned between the stage two compressor exit and the compressor package exit, for cooling the air prior to the air entering the end user air system; means, operatively connected to each cooling means, for establishing a high predetermined temperature limit for the temperature of the air exiting each cooling means; and measuring means, operatively connected to each cooling means for measuring the temperature of the air exiting each cooling means; and means, operatively connected to each measuring means and the processor means, for shutting the compressor package down before the package is damaged, if either of the exiting temperatures exceed the predetermined high temperature limit.
 18. The system of claim 10 further comprising: lubricating oil containing means, operatively positioned in the stage one compressor and the stage two compressor, for lubricating parts isolated from each compressor compression chamber; measuring means, operatively connected to the each lubricating oil containing means, for measuring the oil pressure thereof; means, operatively connected to each lubricating oil containing means measuring means and to the processing means for establishing a range of operating oil pressures; and means, operatively connected to each measuring means and the processor means, for shutting the compressor package down before the package is damaged, if the oil pressure deviates from the predetermined oil pressure range.
 19. The system of claim 10 further comprising: means, operatively connected to the processing means, for measuring the pressure of the air exiting the compressor package after the second stage cooling means; means, operatively connected to the processing means, for measuring the temperature of the air exiting the compressor package after the second stage cooling means; means, operatively connected to the processing means, for establishing a range of compressor package discharge temperatures and pressures; and means, operatively connected to the package exiting temperature and pressure measuring means, for shutting down the compressor package if either the temperature or the pressure exceeds a predetermined limit.
 20. The system of claim 19 wherein, the package discharge pressure is used to determine when to unload and load the two compressor stages. 